The Decibel The legal fight over gender-affirming health care in Alberta
Jun 3, 2025
Alanna Smith, a health reporter for The Globe based in Calgary, dives into the legal battle surrounding Alberta's Bill 26, which restricts gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. She discusses the Canadian Medical Association's constitutional challenge against the bill, calling it a "moral crisis" for doctors. Alanna delves into the ethical concerns posed by the legislation, the rationale of the Alberta government, and discusses the impact of such laws on transgender youth's well-being and access to necessary treatments.
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Bill 26 Restricts Trans Youth Care
- Bill 26 prohibits puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth under 16 and surgeries under 18.
- This creates the most restrictive gender-affirming healthcare law in Canada, sparking constitutional challenges.
Alberta’s Broad Gender Legislation
- Alberta introduced three laws restricting transgender youths' access to care, schools, and sports.
- These laws are the most extensive and restrictive gender-related legislations in Canada.
Surgical Procedures Are Rare in Youth
- Bottom surgeries are not performed on minors anywhere in Canada.
- Top surgeries for youth are extremely rare, with only eight pediatric cases in Alberta over nearly two years.